The Spanish rider was a supreme climber and one of the few riders who was able to seriously attack Eddy Merckx in the mountains.

Unfortunately, Ocana was cursed by bad luck in the Tour de France. He abandoned the Tour de France in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1975 due to injury or illness.

In 1973, he won the Tour de France in front of Bernard Thevenet of France and Jose Manuel Fuente of Spain. However, Merckx didnít ride the Tour de France that year because he had rode and won both the Tour of Spain and the Tour of Italy.

In addition to Ocanaís Tour de France victory, he also won the 1970 Vuelta a Espana in front of Augustin Tamames of Spain and Herman Van Springel of Belgium.

Ocana was 2nd in the 1969 Vuelta a Espana behind Roger Pingeon of France.

Ocana was 2nd in the 1973 Vuelta a Espana behind Eddy Merckx of Belgium.

Ocana was also 2nd in the 1976 Vuelta a Espana behind Jose Pesarrodona of Spain.

In addition, Ocana was 3rd in the 1971 Vuelta a Espana behind Ferdinand Bracke of Belgium and Wilfried David of Belgium.

Ocana also won the Mountains Jersey in the 1969 Vuelta a Espana.

In the one-day events, Ocana was 3rd in the 1973 World Championship Road Race behind Felice Gimondi of Italy and Freddy Maertens of Belgium.